AMERICAN IDOL - AMERICAN IDOL STAR DAUGHTRY SIGNS RECORD DEAL

AMERICAN IDOL contestant CHRIS DAUGHTRY, who turned down an offer to be the lead singer for the rock band FUEL, has signed a record deal with music mogul CLIVE DAVIS. The 26-year-old finished fourth in the talent competition earlier this year (06) and will be managed by the show's creator SIMON FULLER. The North Carolina native has already started work with "A-list collaborators", according to his label and will release his debut album later this year (06). The aspiring rocker has already had an impact on the US Billboard charts with his cover of BON JOVI's WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, which debuted at number 16 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks survey and number 43 on the Hot 100.